Electric loom



Feb. 7, 1939. J. 1.. YOUNG. JR 2,146,611

T I ELECTRIC LOOM Filed May 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Ill A'ITORN EY5Feb.- 7, 1939. J. YOUNG. JR

ELECTRIC LOOM .Filed May 27, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR J. L.Youn,Jr: BY 7wum4- v ATTORNEYS I%EISSES M Patented Feb. 7, 1939 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to an electric loom, and has for an object toprovide a construction wherein all parts of the loom are operatedelectrically in proper time relation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a loom wherein theindividual moving parts are provided with individual prime movers whichactuate the various parts to cause them to function in the desired way.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved electricloom using an electric eye as part of the structure for controlling theaction of the shuttle.

A further object of the invention is to produce a loom electricallyoperated throughout in a way whereby it will operate at a very highspeed and with comparativelyhigh eiliciency.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the loomdisclosing an embodiment of the invention, certain parts beingeliminated in the interest of clearness;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a shuttle, partof the lay and associated parts disclosing certain features of theinvention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 2 with the layeliminated; 1i iFlg. 4 is a side view of the shuttle shown in Fig. 5 isan end view of the shuttle shown in Fi Fig. 6 is a diagram showing thecircuits of the various parts at one end of the loom;

Fig. 7 is a diagram showingthe circuits of the reed beat-up mechanismand the bobbin-change motion;

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the warp stop motion and also the fillingstop motion;

Fig. 9 is an elevation of a harness control mechanism;

Fig. 10 is an end view of the structure shown in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view principally in diagram showing how the structureillustrated in Figs. 9 and 10 actuates the harness;

Fig. 12 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 6 but showing a modified formof the invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, I indicates a frameof a loom which may be of any desired kind and provided with suitableparts for supporting the various moving and stationary parts of theloom. Any desired form of warp beam 2 is provided from which the warpthreads 3 and extend and which with the filling threads eventually formthe woven fabric 5 which is wound on the roller 6 carried by swingingarms 1. Preferably there is an arm 1 on each side of the machine and aretractile spring 8 connected with each arm so as to urge 5 the roll ofcloth 9 toward the guide or feed roller Hi. It will be noted from Figs.1 and 7 that the 'fabric: 5 passes over the guide roller l and then overan idler and is wound on the roller 6 by the friction of the woundfabric 9 against the part of fabric 5 passing over roller l0. Roller IIIis provided with a gear wheel l2 which continually meshes with a pinionl3 rigidly connected with the ratchet wheel H which is carried by shaftl5. A swinging arm I6 is pivotally mounted on 15 shaft l5 and carries apawl I! which is adapted to engage the teeth of ratchet wheel ll forrotating the ratchet wheel. A spring 18 tends to hold the parts in theposition shown in Fig. '7. However, whenever the magnet i9 is energizedit will M attract the armature 20 which is part of lever l6 and swingthe same downwardly sufliciently for pawl I! to rotate the ratchet wheel[4 a distance of one notch. This movement will be transmitted throughthe pinion l3 and gear I 2 to the roller as [0 and by friction to theroll of fabric 9. After the actuation of each pick magnet I9 isenergized and then deenergized so that the fabric 5 is moved to theright as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 7 it will an be seen that the lay2| is supported by a carriage 22 at each side of the loom frame I, andthis carriage carries magnetic plungers 23 and 24 which operate in thesolenoids 25 and 26. It will also be noted that the lay 2| carries thereed 21 so that after the. shuttle has placed the filling in the shed,as hereinafter fully described, the movement of the carriage 22 to theright as shown in Fig. 1 will cause the lay 2| ,to beat up the fillingthread in the desired manner. Ourrent from the main supply of wires 26and 29 is supplied to the solenoids 25 and 26 as shown in Fig. 7. Whenthe magnet 30 is energized, as hereinafter fully described, the swingingcontacts 3! and 32 will be brought into engagement with the stationarycontacts 33 and 31, whereupon current will pass from wire 23 throughconductor 35 to and through the switch 3|, contact 33 and wire 36 to thesolenoid 25. From the solenoid 25 current will pass to the contact 31,through switch 32 and through the wire 39 back to the feed wire 23. whenthe magnet 36 is deprived of current the contact members or switches 3iand 32 will be relzased and will be automatically moved by theretractile spring contacted therewith so as to u engage the stationarycontacts 98 and 38', whereupon current will be supplied to the solenoid26' and the result will be that the lay 2| and assaciated parts will bemoved back to the position" shown in Fig. 1. During the actuation of themachine it will be understood that these actions will take place ratherrapidly. In operation it may be practical to substitute a retractilespring for solenoid 26.

The filling yarn is laid in place by electrically actuated shuttlesshown particularly in Figs. 2 to 5 inclusive. It will be understood thaton each side of the machine there is provided a stator it] andassociated parts so that the description of one will apply to both. Asshown in Fig. 2 the stator lil is provided with a coil 91] which has ametal casing 92 for the return of flux. This arrangement presents thesolenoid through which the shuttle ts is adapted. to move. A brass orother suitable lining i l is provided in the solenoid to permit a propersmooth passage of the shuttle. As shown in Fig. 2, '55 illustrates anelectric eye which may be shifted to any desired place, but ispreferably arranged substantially as shown in Fig. 2. The lay 2B issecured bysuitable brackets 36 or other means to the casing 62 so as tomove therewith. The housing M is also secured by screws and brackets orother means to the casing 42 so that all of these parts.

.connected by wires 59 and 6% with winding 5|.

This winding coacts with brushes 56 at the other side of the machine. Itis to be understood that the winding 5|] will be energized at the sametime that the winding il is energized. It will also be understood thatthese windings are in such directions that they will augment each otherto give a quick strong pull to the shuttle until the shuttle passes infront of the electric eye 55,

whereupon the parts will be deprived of current but the shuttle willcontinue to move under the action of momentum until it reaches the otherside and is stopped in a position similar to that shown in Fig. 2. Itwill be noted that at each end of the shuttle there is provided acontact bar 6| which engages the respective contacts 62 and 63 forclosing a circuit at this point, as hereinafter more fully described. Aretarding or binding spring 64 is carried by the casing 32 and pressesagainst the side of the shuttle to retard and stop its movement as itenters the shuttle box 41. However, the parts are so proportioned andthe binder spring 64 is so adjusted that the shuttle will stop each timewith contact bar '6| engaging contacts 62 and 63. It will also beunderstood that each time the shuttle passes the eye 45 it will shut offthe action of this electric eye and thereby produce certain results, ashereinafter described. I

Referring particularly to Fig. 6, the diagram for the actuation of theshuttle 43 and the parts shown in Figs. 7, 9, 10 and 11 is disclosed.The

winding 4| of the solenoid is supplied with current through theconductors 65 and 66 which are connected through certain instruments tothe power wires 28 and 29. Adjacent the coil 4| in Fig. 6 willbe seen asource of light 6-! which may be an ordinary incandescent lamp with itsrays directed through a lens, and this light illuminates or shines onthe photo-electric cell 68 which controls through the'tube '69 thecurrent from the supply wires 28' and 29 whereby the sensitive relay Cmay be supplied or deprived of current. When the rays of light arebroken and the photoelectric cell 68 is non-functioning magnet C isdeprived of current and consequently the springs connected with thecontacts 10 and H will cause these members to swing upwardly wherebymemher it is in engagement with the stationary contact l2 and member 70is out of engagement with contact 73. When the parts are in the positionshown in Fig. 2 they are in the same relative position as shown in Fig.6 and consequently the contacts 62 and 63 are closing the circuit of thewires i l and i5. Wire it extends downwardly and is permanentlyconnected with. the member or swinging contact l and also is inpermanent engagement with the stationary contact l6. Wire M- extendsupwardly and is permanently connected with the power wire 29 and alsoperman'ently connected with the wire 719, which in turn is permanentlysecured to one end of the swinging contact Bil. Coacting with theswinging contact 89 are swinging contacts 8! and 82. All of thesecontacts are adapted to swing upwardly as shown in Fig. 6 under theaction of suitable springs and to swing downwardly under the action ofthe magnet A when the same is energized. Associated with the magnet A isa magnet B I which when functioning holds the swinging contacts 33 and 93 against the stationary contacts 85 and 86.

In tracing the circuit for the winding of the shuttle it will be seenthat current is taken ofi of power wire 28 and passes through theconductor 87, swinging contact 83, stationary contact 85, and resistor88 which may be adjusted if desired to one of the brushes 56. From theother brush 55 current will passthrough conductor 9|, stationary contact86, swinging contact 89, and conductor 92 back to the power wire 29. Acapacitance or condenser 93 is used between one end of the resistor 88and wire 9| so a that when the current is broken the capacitance :wire28 to the conductor 89 which is connected through suitable swingingcontacts 90 and 99' to wire 65 which is permanently connected with oneend of the coil 4|. The opposite end of coil 4| is connected withconductor 66 which is permanently connected to one end of the swingingcontact 8|, which contact is held against the" stationary contact 94when magnet A is energized.

Stationary contact 94 is connected through wires 95 and 95' to thesupply wire 29. When this circuit is closed the winding 4| will beenergized. 3

When the shuttle is arranged as shown in Fig. 6 current will pass fromthe power wire 28' through conductor 96 to wire 91 and through wire 91to magnet A. From magnet A the current will pass through wire 98 to thestationary contact 13,

through swinging contact 10, wire 99 to and through wire 15, throughcontact 63, bar 6|, contact 62, and wire 14 back to the supply wire 29.Current flowing .in this direction will. energize magnets A and B andconsequently will swing all of the swinging contacts 80, M and 82downwardly. This will close the circuit for the solenoid 4|. Currentflowing through the magnet B will pass from wire 96 through wire 91 tothe winding of magnet B, wire I to the wire 98 and downwardly as shownin Fig. 6 to the contact 13, through swinging contact I0, wire 99,stationary contact I6, swinging contact 80, and wire IIII back to thesupply wire 29.

When the shuttle 43 starts to move it will break one of the circuits ofmagnet A by reason of the fact that bar GI has moved away from contacts62 and 53. Almost instantly after the bar BI leaves contacts 62 and 63the shuttle 43 will pass between light 61 and cell 69 whereby thecircuit through magnet C will be opened and whereby magnet A will bedeprived of current shortly after contact bar 6| starts to move.However, the magnet B will remain energized due to contact at 80 and I6until the shuttle moves in front of the light 61, whereupon magnet Cwill be deenergized. This will deprive magnets A and B of current andconsequently the contacts 83 and 84 will swing open. When magnet C isdeenergized as just described, swinging contact II will engagestationary contact I2 and will attempt to close the circuit of magnet D.However, the circuit of magnet D is not closed at this time because ofthe delayed closing of contact 82 which is still held open by the slowrelease action of magnet A. This slow release is caused, by the openingof magnet C a short time after bar 6i leaves contacts 62 and 63. Thisdelay is desired because it is not desired to operate the shuttlethrowing mechanism on the left hand side of the loom while the shuttleis still in the shed on the way toward the left hand end. After theshuttle has reached the left hand end and is again inbound or moving tothe right, then the contact at II and I2 of Fig. 6 will take place andmagnet D will be energized as contact arms 80, BI and 02 of the magnet Awill be in their upward position and contact will have been made at 82.When magnet D is energized it will in turn close the circuit throughwires I02 and I03 by reason of the contact I04 swinging down intoengagement with the stationary contact I05. The wires I02 and I03 extendto the magnet 30 as shown in Fig. 7 and will energize this magnet aswell as magnet I9. As heretofore described, when magnet I9 is energizedthe fabric will be taken up. When the magnet 30 is energized theswinging contacts 3i and 32 will swing downwardly to the position shownin Fig. '7, whereby current will be supplied to the solenoid 25 formoving the lay forwardly on the beat-up stroke. As soon as -rnagnet 30is deenergized the swinging contacts RI and 32 will move into engagementwith contacts 38 and 39' for energizing the solenoid 28 which will movethe lay back to a position as shown in Fig. i. It will be understoodthat the lay functions upon each pick. It will be noted that the magnetD is energized for only a very short time, namely, during the time theshuttle passes lamp 61. It will therefore be seen that the magnets I9and 30 will quickly function and then become deenergized. In Fig. 6 themagnet B is a quick release magnet and A is a slow release magnet. Ifpreferred, however, the swinging arm contact 82 may be afiixed to magnetB instead of magnet A, in which event B should be a slow release magnetand A should be a quick release magnet.

As the loom continues to operate the yarn in the shuttle will becomeexhausted and when this occurs the mechanism at the left of Fig. '7 willfunction to stop the loom for any desired time, usually a few seconds inorder that a new bobbin may be inserted. As shown at the left in Fig. 7,

. each time the shuttle moves to the position shown in Fig. 6 thepivotally mounted notched feeler I06 will move through the slot I0I inthe shuttle and strike the yarn. As long as there is sumcient yarn onthe bobbin the notches on feeler I08 will revent the feeler fromslipping along the bobbin and the feeler mechanism will be pushedbackward compressing the spring III. When the yarn on the bobbin isalmost exhausted, however, there will be no yarn to catch on the feelerand the feeler will'slip along the bobbin and will not be pushed back bythe lay moving forward but will be pushed sideways through movement ofthe support I06 along the slide groove I06", thus causing the contactsI09 and H0 to engage. When the feeler I06 has moved along the slideuntil the contacts I09 and H0 have, engaged, the

magnet I will be energized by current from the supply wires 28 and 29.It will be noted that this current passes through the swinging contactII2 which is normally held against the stationary contact H3. It willremain energized after the lay has returned to the backward position(breaking contact at I09 and H0) through the contacts H4 and I95.

When the magnet- I has been energized the swinging contacts Ilfi and H5will be swung over into engagement with the respective stationarycontacts H6 and III. When this takes place current will pass throughwire M8 to the magnet Y shown in Fig. 6 and back through wire H9 to thestationary contact I I1 and thence back to the supply wire 29 throughthe swinging contact H5. This will move the swinging contact 90' shownin Fig. 6 to open the circuit of the solenoid or coil M whereby theshuttle will not function. This circuit will remain open as long asmagnet I is energized. At the sametime that the magnet Y (Fig. 6) isenergized the time delay magnet J (Fig. 7) will be energized and willcause the swinging contact I to move into engagement with the stationarycontact IN. This Will close the circuit for magnet K and consequentlymagnet K will move the swinging contact I I2 away from the stationarycontact II3 after the delay necessary to operate magnet J. This willdeenergize magnet I so that all the circuits will be automaticallyrestored and the loom will start to function again.

During the time that the loom has stopped a new bobbin will have beenplaced in the shuttle 43. The new bobbin may be placed in the shuttlemanually if desired, but as shown in Fig. 13 automatic means have beenprovided for securing this result. I'he wires 922 and I23 extend to themagnet M of the bobbin replacing mechanism shown in Fig. 13. It willtherefore be seen that this replacing mechanism will function during thetime that current is supplied to the magnet Y in Fig. 6. In Fig. 13there is provided a drum E25 carrying a number of bobbins I26. A leverI2! is pivotally mounted at I28 and is provided at one end with anarmature i29 adapted to be attracted by the magnet M. The other end ofthe lever is provided with an arc-shaped pusher I30 positioned to engageand push one of the bobbins E26 downwardly into the shuttle 43. As thenew bobbin is forced into the shuttle 43 the old bobbin is forceddownwardly and out of the shuttle. During the downward movement of thelever IZ'I the pawl I3I moves over the ratchet wheel I32 which issecured to drum I25, but when the lever is moved upwardly pawl I3I underthe action of spring I33 will-move the drum I25 a distance equal to thespacing of the bobbins on the drum so that a new bobbin will be ready tobe fed into the next empty shuttle. It will be understood that theshuttle is open at the top andbottom and that this part of the shuttleis old and well known and that the practice of forcing the old bobbinout by a new bobbin is old and well known.

In Fig.8 stop motion mechanism will be seen. From this figure it will benotedthat each of the warp yarns is provided with a contact member I34which is normally supported by the warp yarn.

When any of the yarns break the contact I34 carried thereby will dropdown and connect the contacts I35 and I36. This will close the circuitof wires I31 and I38 which are connected to the magnet I39 shown in Fig.6. When the contacts I35 and I36 are connected magnet I39 will swing thecontact 90 out of engagement with its stationary contact for opening thecircuit of the coil M. This circuit will remain open as long as thecontacts I35 and I36 are connected. In regard to a stop motion for thefilling yarn, a fork I40 extension I42 will be lowered. When this occurslay 2I will move to the left as shown in Fig. 8 and the hook I43 willengage extension I42 and move the fork I40 so that the contact I41 willengage the contact I48 and close the circuit of wires I31 and I38,whereby magnet I39 shown in Fig. 6 will be energized and the coil 4Ideprived of current.

This will stop the functioning of the machine until the filling yam hasbeen taken care of.

When themagnet D (Fig. 6) temporarily closes the circuits of wires m2and I03, magnet G (Fig.

10) will be energized. It will be understood that wires I02 and I03 areconnected with magnet G as well as the other devices heretoforedescribed. When magnet G is energized it will attract its armature I49and swing the arm I50 which is pivotally mounted on the shaft I5.I.Shaft II carries a drum I 52 to which is rigidly secured a,

ratchet wheel I53 coacting with pawl I54 pivotally mounted on lever I50.Whenever the lever I50 is swung downwardly as shown in Fig. 10,

ratchet wheel I53 will be moved the distance of one tooth, thus movingdrum I52 one step forward. When the magnet G is deenergized spring I55will quickly move the arm I 50 back to the upward position. Drum I52 isprovided with a number of metal bars I56 (Fig. 9) grounded on shaft I5I.Bars I56 are provided with a number of apertures so as to receive thevarious metal pins I58. There is provided .a metal contact spring I59foreach circumferential row of apertures and all of said springs aresupported by metal bar I60 but insulated therefrom by the insulatingstrip I60. A'conductor I6I (Fig. 11) is connected with supply wire 28and also with shaft I6I. A conductor I62 is connected withsupply wire 29and with one end of the winding of solenoid I63. The other end of thewinding of solenoid I63 is connected through wire I64 to ,the

spring contact I59. The solenoid I63 has a plunger I65 which isconnected with the harness I winding 50.

I 66. It will be understood that there may be several frames of theharness I66 and that each frame is connected with a separate plunger I66and with a spring or weight I61. It will therefore be seen that eachcontact I59 is in a separate circuit including a solenoid I63 so as togive individual control of each harness frame I 66. There may be oneframe for each circumferential row of apertures in the drum I52, or ifdesired there may be only two frames so as to provide for the desiredshed during the functioning of the machine.

It will be understood that whenever any spring I59 is engaging a pin I58the frame I66 will be elevated and held elevated as long as the springis in engagement with thepln. When the drum I52-is rotated for one stepall of the springs will move to the next bar I56 which may have only acertain number of-pins.. For instance, if there are only two frames I66the first row of apertures will be provided with a pin in each alternateopening and the second row will be likewise provided with a pin in eachal rnate opening, but the pins in the second row will be alternated. Inthis way one frame I66 will be elevated and theother lowered. The pinscould be arranged in other desired ways. By this arrang'ement theoperation of quite a few harnesses may be provided for and also meansthat dobby weaves could be made at the same speed as plain weaves.

In the construction shown in Figs. 2 and 6 the movement of the shuttle43 is caused by the attraction of the coil M in connection with theHowever, the parts could be arranged to cause the shuttle to be'given apush by the solenoid when the same is part of the way through. Anarrangement of this kind is shown in Fig. 12 which, generally speaking,is the same as Fig.6 but with sufllcient modification to secure theresults just mentioned. Referring to this figure it will be seen that amagnet E is provided for closing thev respective swinging contacts I68'and I69. Also the magnet C is provided with an additional swingingcontact I10. The brushes 56 are. setsumciently close to the outside(left side) of the solenoid so that they will contact with contact'bars51 and; 56 of the tion, which it will do as soon as the'ray of light isuninterrupted. However, inasmuch as relay E has been electrified thencontact has been made at points I68 and I69 which continues to keep thecircuit closed even though .the sensitive relay 0 returns to its normalposition breaking contact at I and 12. when it would not be desired tooperate'this mechanism, it would be operated only 'for a fraction of asecond even though the brushes On the inbound trip would make contact onthe inbound trip. Notwithstanding this fact, the circuit would not becompleted until the ray of light was broken and to take care of thiscondition the length of the contact plates 51 and 58 could be adjustedso that this would only be a fraction of a second before the contactwith the brushes is broken. Even if the mechanism operated for thisfraction of a second it would only tend to slow down the motion of theshuttle which is more or less desirable at that point. As shown in Fig.1 the lay is operated by means of the carriage 22 but if desired thismethod of actuation could be applied to the ordinary swinging type oflay operated about a pivot near the bottom of the loom Without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

It will also be understood that some of the magnets or solenoids mayrequire lower voltage due to the fact that they be more or less exposedand therefore all magnets may not be operated directly off the powerlines 28 and 29. Timing and coordination may be controlled accurately byadjusting the speedof the tripping and releasing of the various magnetsand by shifting the electric eye along the route of the' shuttle.

I claim:

1. A loom for weaving fabric including a lay provided with a reed, ashuttle, electrically actuated means for actuating said lay and reed,and means for actuating said shuttle in time with said lay and reed,said last-mentioned means including an electric eye positioned to havethe rays of light broken by said shuttle as said shuttle moves from oneextreme position to the other.

2. A loom for weaving fabric comprising a frame, a forwardly andrearwardly reciprocating lay, a reed secured to said lay and movedthereby, electrically actuated solenoids for actuating said lay, ashuttle, and means including an electric eye on each side of said framefor actuating said shuttle, said shuttle interrupting the light to saidelectric eyes adjacent each end of its travel.

3. A loom for weaving fabric formed with an independent electricallyactuated prime mover for each of the moving parts of the loom and meansincluding a photoelectric cell on each side of the loom for timing andco-ordinating said prime movers so that the various moving parts of theloom will operate in proper timed relation to each other.

4. A fabric loom for plain and dobby weaves, including a lay providedwith a reed, a shuttle, electrically actuated means for actuating saidlay and reed, a harness for actuating the warp yarn to form a shed,electrically actuated means for actuating said harness, electricallyactuated means for actuating said shuttle, and an electric eye fortiming and co-ordinating the electrically actuated means for actuatingthe lay and reed, the harness, and the shuttle, said electric eye beingpositioned to have the rays of light broken by said shuttle as theshuttle moves from one extreme position to the other.

5. In a loom, a harness, a solenoid for raising the harness at spacedintervals, a lay and reed,

a shuttle, means for actuating said lay and reed,

means for actuating said shuttle, and an electric eye on each side ofthe loom for timing and coordinating the action of said solenoid and theaction of the means for actuating the shuttle, said electric eye beingpositioned to have respec- 'tively the rays of light broken by saidshuttle as the shuttle moves from one extreme position to the other.JAMES LEE YOUNG, JR.

